Microsoft elevates Karan Bajwa as India MD

Microsoft has appointed Karan Bajwa as the new managing director of its sales and marketing group (SMSG) which means he will be heading Microsoft Corporation India Pvt Ltd. Microsoft also has separate firms which do research and handle offshore services and are headed by different executives.

Bajwa joined Microsoft five years ago and is currently working as the head of its enterprise business in India. He will take over the new assignment in July 2013 and will be reporting to Bhaskar Pramanik, chairman of Microsoft India.

Sanket Akerkar, who is MD currently, is relocating to the US to take up another assignment within the firm. He joined the firm in US in 2003 and moved to the Indian subsidiary in 2010.

"In the last two-and-a-half years, Sanket has led the organisation to greater progress across various areas. His deep understanding of enterprises and their needs in an evolving economy, his engagement with our customers and partners and his commitment to building talent within the company have been truly appreciated," said Pramanik on the move of Akerkar.

The company has also announced that Floris van Heijst, general manager â€“ marketing and operations, Microsoft India, will be appointed on a senior position within Europe next month. Heijst joined Microsoft in 2005 and has been in India since 2010.